Information & Advice

If you look after your partner, or a relative or friend who is ill or disabled, you are a carer, although you may not necessarily think of yourself that way.

There are many ways that you might care for the person. Perhaps you're on hand 24 hours a day to provide the care they need, or maybe you arrange their hospital appointments for them, or drop round each day to keep them company or to cook their dinner. If you live further away, you might visit them once a month to check on their wellbeing.

Whether you have cared for the person for a long time, are temporarily helping them (for example, while they recuperate from an operation), or have just become a carer, it's useful to know what support is available to you.

Homecare

Having someone who comes into the home of the person you care for to help with their care can be important. You may be able to get paid care workers (known as home help) to provide help in the home of the person you're looking after. These care workers can also be known as care attendants or personal assistants. They provide practical support to help you to continue to care for the person you're looking after.

Home help can provide services such as:

• Domiciliary care for the person you're looking after. This includes help with getting up and going to bed, bathing, dressing, meals and medication.
• Help with shopping.
• Sitting with the person you're looking after to allow you to have a break.
• Helping the person you're looking after to go to the cinema, pub, shopping or to enjoy any other community activity.
• Practical tasks around the home such as cleaning and cooking.

If you believe that you or the person you're looking after may benefit from home help, contact your social services department to request an assessment.